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- ItemOpen AccessSource-dependent effects of early-life zinc supplementation in milk on growth performance and starter intake of pre-weaned dairy calves(Frontiers Media, 2024-09-03) Sharifabadi, Hossein; Shamkhani, Esmaeil; Hafizi, Maryam; Mohammadi ,Sajjad; Shokri, Zahra; Ahmadibonakdar, Yasaman; Seradj, Ahmad RezaThis study aimed to evaluate the effects of milk supplementation with different zinc (Zn) sources on growth rate, starter intake, diarrhea incidence, and nutrient digestibility in dairy calves during the pre-weaning period. Forty newborn Holstein heifer calves were assigned to four treatments: control (no Zn supplementation; CON) or supplementation with 80 mg/day Zn from zinc sulfate (Zn-Sul), chelated zinc (Zn-Bon), or zinc methionine (Zn-Met). The Zn supplements were provided via milk from days 3 to 14 of age. Body weight (BW) and starter intake (SI) were monitored until weaning on day 70. Serum metabolite concentrations were determined in blood samples collected on days 15 and 70. Fecal consistency index (FCI) and frequency of medical treatments were measured during the first 21 days of life. Apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) was determined in the 10th week of life. Although the effects of Zn supplementation on BW gain or body measurements were non-significant, a tendency for treatment × time interaction on BW was observed, with variations among the experimental groups becoming more pronounced on days 56 and 70, showing higher values in Zn-supplemented calves compared to CON. SI was improved by Zn supplementation, with the greatest response in the Zn-Bon group. Compared to control, ATTD of organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, and starch tended to increase with Zn supplementation. Blood metabolites and FCI did not differ among the experimental treatments. Although no significant difference was detected between Zn-Met and CON, the frequency of medical treatment was significantly lower in Zn-Bon and Zn-Sul compared to CON calves. In conclusion, zinc supplementation in milk, particularly with the organic chelated zinc source (Zn-Bon), showed promising effects on increasing starter intake and reducing medical treatments, along with trends toward enhanced growth and nutrient digestibility in pre-weaned calves.
- ItemOpen AccessBeyond the Wild MRSA: Genetic Features and Phylogenomic Review of mecC-Mediated Methicillin Resistance in Non-aureus Staphylococci and Mammaliicocci(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2024-1-1) Abdullahi, I.N.; Latorre-Fernández, J.; Reuben, R.C.; Trabelsi, I.; González-Azcona, C.; Arfaoui, A.; Usman, Y.; Lozano, C.; Zarazaga, M.; Torres, C.Methicillin resistance, mediated by the mecA gene in staphylococci and mammaliicocci, has caused tremendous setbacks in the use of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine due to its high potential of presenting the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype. Three other mec analogs exist, of which the mecC has evolutionary been associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in wild animals, thus loosely referred to as the wild MRSA. In this study, we present an epidemiological review and genomic analysis of non-aureus staphylococci and mammaliicocci that carry the mecC-mediated methicillin resistance trait and determine whether this trait has any relevant link with the One Health niches. All previous studies (2007 till 2023) that described the mecC gene in non-aureus staphylococci and mammaliicocci were obtained from bibliometric databases, reviewed, and systematically analyzed to obtain the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence determinants, mobilome, and other genetic contents. Moreover, core genome single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis was used to assess the relatedness of these strains. Of the 533 articles analyzed, only 16 studies (on livestock, environmental samples, milk bulk tanks, and wild animals) were eligible for inclusion, of which 17 genomes from 6 studies were used for various in silico genetic analyses. Findings from this systematic review show that all mecC-carrying non-aureus staphylococci were resistant to only beta-lactam antibiotics and associated with the classical SCCmec XI of S. aureus LGA251. Similarly, two studies on wild animals reported mecC-carrying Mammaliicoccus stepanovicii associated with SCCmec XI. Nevertheless, most of the mecC-carrying Mammaliicoccus species presented an MDR phenotype (including linezolid) and carried the SCCmec-mecC hybrid associated with mecA. The phylogenetic analysis of the 17 genomes revealed close relatedness (<20 SNPs) and potential transmission of M. sciuri and M. lentus strains in livestock farms in Algeria, Tunisia, and Brazil. Furthermore, closely related M. sciuri strains from Austria, Brazil, and Tunisia (<40 SNPs) were identified. This systematic review enhances our comprehension of the epidemiology and genetic organization of mecC within the non-aureus staphylococci and mammaliicocci. It could be hypothesized that the mecC-carrying non-aureus staphylococci are evolutionarily related to the wild MRSA-mecC. The potential implications of clonal development of a lineage of mecA/mecC carrying strains across multiple dairy farms in a vast geographical region with the dissemination of MDR phenotype is envisaged. It was observed that most mecC-carrying non-aureus staphylococci and mammaliicocci were reported in mastitis cases. Therefore, veterinarians and veterinary microbiology laboratories must remain vigilant regarding the potential existence of mecA/mecC strains originating from mastitis as a potential niche for this resistance trait.
- ItemOpen AccessMother-offspring bonding revisited: A blueprint for the future of beef cattle farming(Elsevier, 2024-07-03) Sanz, Albina; Blanco Penedo, Isabel; Quintans, Graciela; Álvarez Rodríguez, JavierThis review summarizes the status of the art of cow-calf relationships at birth and during lactation, including the physiological mechanisms throughout suckling/nursing and weaning which can impact on productive and reproductive parameters, social behaviour across the mother-offspring pairs, and the required positive cow-calf welfare approach in beef cattle. The time spent close to the calf after birth, latency to nurse, nursing time, grooming and vocalisations can be considered fair proxies of oxytocin release and maternal care during the neonatal period. Besides, maternal contact during the first days after parturition will be crucial to guarantee the adequate establishment of mother-offspring bonding and the correct social and emotional development of young calf in beef cattle. During lactation, restricted nursing systems have been demonstrated as cost-effective management alternatives to improve reproductive herd performance. As artificial weaning of calves is considered a significant stressor in the lives of beef cattle, the use of a fence-line or the two-step weaning have been proposed, although no clear benefits in reducing cow-calf distress have been found. Modelling the perspective from a productive to a welfare approach in a beef cattle system is required. The ability of cows and calves to engage in voluntary, self-generated and goal-directed behaviour must be considered in the design of tailored management practices that maintain the trade-off between animal performance, cow-calf interactions, and positive mental state. Likewise, social interactions may be considered as part of environmental optimization to provide cow-calf pairs with opportunities for positive experiences and improve cattle welfare. The Five Domains Model is proposed to develop welfare-orientated management strategies considering aspects such as maternal deprivation, behavioural stress and socio-emotional development in beef cattle. This holistic approach of mother-offspring bonding focused on nutrition (Domain 1), physical environment (Domain 2), health (Domain 3), behavioural interactions (Domain 4) and animal's mental state (Domain 5) will help to improve management decisions and cow-calf welfare state. Some management recommendations and opportunities for future studies to deeply enlarge the welfare perspective in the dyad are discussed.
- ItemOpen AccessDetermination of the frequency of individuals with broadly cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies against PRRSV in the sow population under field conditions(BMC, 2024) Plaza Soriano, Angeles; Martínez Lobo, Francisco Javier; Garza Moreno, Laura; Castillo Perez, Jaime; Caballero, Elki; Castro, Jose Maria; Simarro, Isabel; Prieto, CintaBackgroundPorcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) is a significant swine pathogen, yet the immune response components contributing to protection remain incompletely understood. Broadly reactive neutralizing antibodies (bNAs) may play a crucial role in preventing reinfections by heterologous viruses, although their occurrence is considered low under both field and experimental conditions. This study aimed to assess the frequency of sows exhibiting bNAs against PRRSV under field conditions and to analyze the epidemiological factors influencing the occurrence of these elite neutralizers. Blood samples were collected from breeding sows across eleven unrelated pig farms, with samples categorized by parity. Serum obtained was utilized in virus neutralization assays (VNs) against six PRRSV field isolates and two MLV strains.ResultsApproximately 7% of the sows exhibited neutralization activity against all viruses in the panel, with a geometric mean of the titer (GMT) of NAs at or exceeding 4 log2. Exclusion of the PRRSV-2 isolate from the panel increased the proportion of elite neutralizers to around 15%. Farm-specific analysis revealed significant variations in both GMT of NAs and proportion of elite neutralizers. PRRSV unstable farms and those with a PRRS outbreak in the last 12 months displayed higher GMT of NAs compared to stable farms without recent outbreaks. The GMT of NAs showed a gradual, albeit moderate, increase with the parity of the sows. Parity's impact on bNA response was consistently observed in stable farms but not necessarily in unstable farms or those with recent outbreaks. Finally, the results indicated that vaccinated animals had higher NA titers against the vaccine virus used in the farm than against field viruses.ConclusionbNAs against heterologous isolates induced by PRRSV infection under field conditions are generally low, often falling below titers necessary for protection against reproductive failure. However, a subset of sows (approximately 15%) can be considered elite neutralizers, efficiently recognizing various PRRSV strains. Repeated exposures to PRRSV play a crucial role in eliciting these bNAs, with a higher frequency observed in unstable farms and those with recent outbreaks. In stable farms, parity only marginally influences bNA titers, highlighting its limited role compared to the impact of PRRSV exposure history.
- ItemOpen AccessAssociation of genomic prediction for twin pregnancies with the incidence of double ovulation in primiparous dairy cows(Wiley, 2024) García Ispierto, Irina; Pal, Prasanna; Ganau, Sergi; López Gatius, FernandoTwin pregnancies compromise the health and well-being of dairy cattle. A recent genomic prediction model for twin pregnancies has been developed based on twin calving or abortion. However, the incidence of double ovulation is significantly higher than that of twin births. This study aimed to evaluate whether genomic prediction values for twin pregnancies are associated with the incidence of double ovulation in primiparous dairy cows. Factors influencing the double ovulation rate were analysed using binary logistic regression on 676 cows: 475 (70.3%) inseminated at spontaneous estrus and 201 following one of two different estrus synchronization protocols for fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI). The odds ratio for double ovulations was 0.92 (p = .002) per unit increase in prediction value and 2 (p = .01) for cows subjected to an FTAI protocol. Our findings suggest that genomic prediction values for twin pregnancies can effectively identify the risk of double ovulation at the herd level.